The Minnesota Vikings waited an entire season to see 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy on the field. The second-year signal-caller finally started the first two games of the new season and put up a mixed bag of results, but now, he’s expected to miss Week 3 with an ankle injury — if not more time. The news comes as a brutal blow for real-world purposes, but the fantasy football world also sees shockwaves as Vikings pass catchers now see veteran Carson Wentz step up under center.
With McCarthy sidelined, should you still start Justin Jefferson in fantasy football in Week 3? What does the injury mean for Jefferson’s fantasy value?
Should you start Justin Jefferson in Week 3?
Justin Jefferson maintains a reputation as the NFL’s top wide receiver for good reason. When healthy, the 26-year-old makes magic happen on the field with 1,000 yards and five touchdowns in each of his past five pro seasons, including four of those in which he racked up 1,400 yards or more and seven scores. He’s a fantastic route runner with great hands and the ability to beat any kind of coverage, and the playmaker can also create yards with his after-catch ability as well. With all of that in mind, it’s no wonder to see Jefferson essentially make himself quarterback-proof. The wideout has put up numbers with Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold, and even Nick Mullens.
There were questions about Jefferson’s ability to post WR1-caliber numbers in fantasy football with McCarthy stepping in at quarterback. While those may be somewhat valid, the receiver tallied 14.8 and 11.1 points in PPR formats in the first two weeks of 2025 with seven total catches for 125 yards and a score. His floor seems like more of a WR2 with massive upside with McCarthy thus far, but the talent remains the same. Jefferson now sees Carson Wentz step in as the starting quarterback for Week 3 while McCarthy deals with his ankle injury, but will the former MVP candidate be able to ensure his top wideout remains fantasy-relevant?
The verdict
Wentz is a shell of his former self these days and won’t ever return to the caliber of quarterback he used to be during his first seasons with the Eagles prior to a torn ACL. He bounced around the NFL over the last few years with his last full season as a starter coming in 2021 with the Colts. He spent time as a backup with the Commanders before being thrust into a starting role there due to injury, then spent the last two seasons as a backup with the Rams and Chiefs. Wentz appeared in just a handful of games with two starts over those two years, completing 29-of-43 passes for 281 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
The stats don’t pop off the page, but if there’s one thing Wentz does bring to the equation, it’s a veteran’s presence and experience as an NFL starter. With 94 starts under his belt, the 32-year-old can provide poise under pressure that McCarthy hasn’t yet developed, something the Vikings desperately need. The younger quarterback completed just 52.4% of his passes in Week 2 with 158 yards and two interceptions. Even his Week 1 performance wasn’t stunning with three quarters of poor play before a fourth-quarter explosion to finish with 143 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. McCarthy clearly needs time to adapt to the professional level.
With that in mind, it’s tough to see Jefferson’s fantasy football production dropping much more while catching passes from Wentz. If nothing else, the veteran quarterback may provide a slight boost to his top target’s fantasy value if he can throw the ball more accurately than his younger counterpart. With Jordan Addison still sidelined, Jefferson should see a massive target share against a vulnerable Bengals defense. All things considered, there’s little reason to worry about the wideout in Week 3 — start Jefferson accordingly.
